Pneumatic football training machine



Sept. 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

Sept. 9, 1941. R, NOQR PNEUM'ATIC FOOTBALL TRAINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a u A Q .0 a Q Q M Q x Q Q 2 Q a 3 NU mm Sept. 9, 1941. I R. A. NooR I I PNEUMATIC FOOTBALL TRAINING MACHINE Filed DeC. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 9, 1941 U bl ET E D ST AT E S PAT E F F ICE PNEUMATIC FOOTBALL TRAINING MAGHINE Robert A. Noor, Tuscumbia, Ala.

Application December 28, 1939, Serial No; 311,422

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a pneumatic football training machine and it aims generally to improve, simplify and render more practical and efiicient the machine disclosed in application Serial No, 164,250, filed by me on September 16, 1937, now Patent 2,183,465.

It is particularly aimed' to provide astructure which is stronger and has vertically adjustable means supporting the dummy and the pneumatic means in a novel manner, and-generally has parts enabling ready assembly or disassembly.

At the same time, the machine possesses all of the advantages of that disclosed in my patent aforesaid, particularly offering a means of'selecting players according to their'individual ability, 2. machine which builds up the muscles of the back, legs, arms, wrists and shoulders, develops the art of charging, blocking and tackling, eliminates live bait, develops a sense of accuracy and timing, offers conditions comparable to actual play, keeps a player off his knees, makes practice enjoyable like a game, etc.

Operative embodiments are shown by Way ofexample in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 isa plan view ofone form of the machine;

FigureZ isa vertical sectional view taken on the plane ofline 2-2 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44- of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure-'7 is aside elevation of the modified form of Figure 6;

Referring specifically tothe drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, and first-to the form of Figures 1 to 5, four upright corner posts are employed at l0 mounted for instance on metallic bars H which are fastened as at 12 toany suitable support or supports, for instance concrete foundation sections or blocks 13. Braces M'preferably extend from the posts It to the bars ll. Longitudinal braces l5 join the posts ill at the top, being detachably connected thereto as by means of coupling devices at IS. The posts I!) and braces l5 are usually metal piping and the couplings I5 are screw threaded'thereto.

Metallic crossbeams' 16 are employed having blocks or plates ll; of metal welded or otherwise movably mount U-bolts I 8' which surround the posts I0 and through manipulation of the nuts lllthereon, enable the crossbeams- 6 to'be placed at different heights and clamped therein to the posts I01 One or more longitudinal metallic beams 20 maybewelded' or in any other manner. rigidly secured" at opposite ends to the crossbeams l6, at suitable distances apart, and preferably in parallelism. Seven of such beams 20 are shown in Figures 1 to 5, by way of example.

v Elongated cylinders-'21 are mounted oneon pistons are reducedand surroundedby packing 2-8 for instancelof' asbestos, which is lubricated and adapted-tribe maintained lubricated in connection with the bore wall of the cylinders, by means of' lubricantsupplied through a plug 29 carried by each cylinder. Brackets or attaching devices 353 are carried by the plates 2-! and draw cable sections 3I' are permanently or removably fastened thereto aspreferred, the same passing out through the caps or closures 23.

Said cable sections 3'! are trained over pulleys 32 pivoted' as at 33" to brackets 34 which are welded or otherwise fastened to the outer sides of the crossbeams IS. The other ends of the cables 31 have eyelets 35 which detachably engage hooks 36 on longitudinally slidable carriages 31. Such. cable sections 31 include turnbuckle devices s whereby the cable sections may be lengthened or shortenedas desired.

Said carriages 31 have integral depending lugs 39 between which a stem or post 4'0 of any suitable form of dummy-42 is disposed, being pivoted to such ears'39 by pins as at 41'; This connection insures travel of the dummy longitudinally against pivotal movement with respect to the carriage but permits-lateral pivotalmovement of the dummy'with respect tothe carriage.

The carriages 31 have L -shaped brackets es bolted thereto as at- 44 andsuitable bolts or pins 45 journal-rollers fifi tothe brackets lii and which rollers are disposed between the upper and lower flanges of the longitudinal beams 2ll and are rigidlyconnected thereto and which plates ll readapted to-trazvel onthelatter;

Air pipes are employed, two for each cylinder 21, the same being connected to the cylinders at opposite ends of the latter and in such air pipes or pipe lines, a pressure indicator 48 is operatively connected. Regulable valves 49 are provided one in each pipe 41 and the inner ends 'of the pipes 41 are connected to cross pipes or sure on the corresponding gages 48 since the. I

movement of the dummies 42, through the cables 3!, will move the pistons or plungers 24.

For practice the coach may vary the resistance on each cylinder by regulating the individual valves 49, or for all players on the main regulating valve 53. The coach may also apply a different resistance on each cylinder for each individual player in which event the previously, mentioned gauges 48 will indicate the pressures,

exerted oneach cylinder byeaoh individual play- The coach is able to judge the blocking or charging power of each player at the same time; It will be realized that the pressure throughout the system is equal and that gauges 52 are re-, sponsive to the same pressure as gauges 48, if, valves 49 areopen and valve 53 is closed. 'The gauges 52 enable the coach to watch the total eflort exerted by all players at close range, when Valves 449 are open.

Pipe elements 54 constitute brackets and support the pipes from the beamsZfi and may even be welded thereto.

Various changes may be resorted to within the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, I may use the form disclosed'in Figures 6 and 7. Such form illustrates the use of but a single longitudinal beam 20, cylinder 2| and associated parts'ina closed pneumatic system. Otherwise, the only difierence in this form over the preceding form is in a single line of air piping at 41' communicating t opposite ends, with the interior of the cylinder. This piping 41' has supports 54' and between the same' pressure gages 48' are connected and between the pressure gages 48' a valve 49' is connected, to be entirely cut-off if desired or to be partly closed, according to the resi tance offered to the dummy. Since all other parts agree with those of the preceding form, the same reference numerals have been applied thereto.

It is clear that although the cables 3| slide through the caps or closures 23, the engagement is air-tight. 1

Iclaimasmy invention; 7 l, A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, supporting means therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a piston operable in the cylinder, adummy, a car riage for the dummy, said carriage and dummy being bodily movably mounted on thelongitudinal beam, flexible connections passing into the means to indicate air pressure produced in the cylinder caused by impact of a player with said I dummy.

2. A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, supporting means therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a piston operable in the cylinder, a dummy, a carriage for the dummy, said carriage and dummy being bodily movably mounted on the longitudinal beam, flexible connections passing into the cylinder and directly connected to the piston, said flexible connections extending from the piston to the carriage, guide means for said flexible cylinder and directly connected tothe piston,

" ible connections mounted on the crossbeams, andconnections mounted on' the crossbeams, means .to indicate air pressure produced in the cylinder caused by impact of a player with said dummy,

said guide, means being pulleys, turnbuckles in the flexible connections, and closures at the ends of the cylinder through which the flexible connections" pass in air-tight relation.

3. A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, supporting means therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a piston operable in the cylinder, a dummy, a carriage for the dummy, said carriage and dummy being bodily movably mounted on the longitudinal beam, flexible connections passing into the cylinder and directly connected to the piston, said flexible connections extending from the piston to the carriage, guide means for said flexible connections mounted on the crossbeams, means to indicate air pressure produced in the cylinder caused by impact ofa player with said dummy, said longitudinal beam having horizontal flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said carriage including brackets on opposite sides thereof, and rollers mounted by said brackets and disposed to travel on said'flanges. 7

4. A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, supporting means therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a

cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a

cylinder and directly connected to the piston,

said flexible connectionsextending from the pistonto the carriage, guide means for said flexible connections mounted on the crossbeams, means to indicate air pressure produced in the cylinder caused by impact of a player with said dummy, said longitudinalbeam having horizontal flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, said carriage including brackets on opposite sides thereof, rollers mounted by said brackets and disposed to travel on said flanges, said dummy being pivoted to thecarriagefor swinging movement laterally of its main path of travel.

5. A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, 'supportingmeans therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a piston operable in the cylinder, a dummy, a carriage for the dummy, said carriage and dummy being bodily movably mounted on the longitudinal beam, flexible connections passing into the cylinder and directly connected to the piston, said flexible connections extending from the piston to the carriage, guide means for said flexible connections mounted on the crossbeams,-means to indicate. air pressure produced'in the cylinder caused byimpact of a player with said dummy,

plates carried by said crossbeams, and means co-acting with the plates and supporting means to clamp the crossbeams at different elevations.

6. A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, supporting means therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a piston operable in the cylinder, a dummy, a carriage for the dummy, said carriage and dummy being bodily movably mounted on the longitudinal beam, flexible connections passing into the cylinder and directly connected to the piston, said flexible connections extending from the piston to the carriage, guide means for said flexible connections mounted on the crossbeams, means to indicate air pressure produced in the cylinder caused by impact of a player with said dummy, said piston having a reduced portion, packing about said reduced portion, and means on the cylinder whereby lubricant may be supplied to the interior thereof.

7. A football practice apparatus comprising crossbeams, supporting means therefor, a longitudinal beam supported by the crossbeams, a cylinder mounted by the longitudinal beam, a piston operable in the cylinder, a dummy, a carriage for the dummy, said carriage and dummy being bodily movably mounted on the longitudinal beam, flexible connections from the piston to the carriage, guide means for said flexible connections mounted on the crossbeams, means to indicate air pressure produced in the cylinder caused by impact of a player with said dummy, brmkets at opposite ends of the piston to which the flexible cable is connected, gaskets carried by opposite ends of the piston, and means to secure the gaskets in place and said brackets to the piston.

8. A football practice apparatus comprising supporting means, crossbeams secured thereto, a plurality of longitudinal beams mounted by the crossbeams in spaced relation, cylinders mounted by the longitudinal beams, pistons operable in the cylinders, carriages movable along the longitudinal beams, dummies carried by the carriages, flexible connections from the pistons movable air-tight through the ends of the cylinders, and connected to the carriages, guide means for the flexible connections mounted by the crossbeams, means to indicate pressure within the respective cylinders caused by impact of a player with the associated dummy and conduit means in communication with all of the cylinders having a pressure indicator means therein.

9. A football practice apparatus comprising supporting means, crossbeams secured thereto, a plurality of longitudinal beams mounted by the crossbeams in spaced relation, cylinders mounted by the longitudinal beams, pistons operable in the cylinders, carriages movable along the longitudinal beams, dummies carried by the carriages, flexible connections from the pistons movable air-tight through the ends of the cylinders, and connected to the carriages, guide means for the flexible connections mounted by the crossbeams, means to indicate pressure within the cylinders caused by impact of a player with the associated dummy, consisting of air lines connected at one end to the cylinders, gages in said air lines, cutoff valves in said air lines between the gages, piping to which the air lines are connected, a pair of pressure gages in the piping, and a valve in the piping between the pressure gages thereof.

ROBERT A. NOOR. 

